Pretty woman, walkin’ down the street …

Didn’t I say these women wearing those nice saris are quite pretty?
Quite pretty? They are smashing !!!

Saris in Malaysia

Although I am in Malaysia, ‘Little India’ looks quite Indian … The streets are full young pretty women wearing nice saris. It’s a pity men don’t wear them, I would prefer it instead of this red scarf of mine.
It not so easy to wrap a sari. If you want to know how to do it, watch the instructions.

"Little India", George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Malaysia is a country that consists of 13 states and 3 federal territories. Penang is one of these states and that is where I am now … more precisely in Georgetown, the capital of Penang.
The inner city of George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sandwiched between Beach Street and Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) and between China Street and Chulia Street is grid of small shops and restaurants fondly known as "Little India".
There is a colorful bazaar like atmosphere with the sound of Indian music and smell of spices and curry. You can get DVD of Indian movies and CD of Indian music. There are also many jewelry shops and money changers to choose from.
Mmmm … smells good, I like the exotic atmosphere here …

2 years 2 late ...

Hello Folks, here I am back again … Sorry, it’s exactly one month ago since I published the last picture on my blog. Sorry mom and dad … but ‘old rats never die young’ so don’t worry too much about me. I am always comin’ back again.
Of course, I’ve been busy all the time ... I travelled from Daytonaback to Tokyo, Japan. It was real fun to be back in Japan. I love the country and its people. But unfortunately I lost those pictures along the way … maybe we’ll find them later, so I might publish them at some other time.
But in the meanwhile I arrived in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Quite an exotic place to be … although, as you can read on the rickshaw, I arrive here two years too late. Malaysia celebrated it’s 50^th anniversary as an independent state in 2007.

Rickshaws ... nice vehicles to travel in. I love them and I admire the rickshaw drivers.

Where is Woody?

Where is Woody?

We haven't heard from him since he left Daytona ...

Some told us he went to Japan,
others say he was seen in Malaysia,
whilst still other people signaled him in Bangkok, Thailand ...

We are very worried about him !!!

If someone has seen him recently, please mail us (woodyrat@gmail.com).

Woody, if you read this ... please contact us asap.

Mom & Dad

Time to leave Daytona Beach ... on the road again

I had a lot of rest the last few days here on the beach in the sun.
It makes me nervous!!! It’s time to move on …

So this mornin' when the sun was warm,
I rambled out of Daytona town.
Pulled my cap down over my eyes
And headed out for the western skies.
So long, Daytona.
Howdy, East Orange.

Don’t know where the wind will blow me, but I am on the road again.

No time to lose

Today, it’s exactly three years ago that I left my home and family to travel through the world.
I have seen many wonderful places and met many nice people … but this week I have been seriously thinking of settling down here in Daytona Beach.
Yeah, I love the place and maybe I was a little tired …

So I went down to Woody & Associates Realty Inc., to see if they had some property for sale. I thought maybe there would be opportunities caused by the bursting of the housing bubble here in the US … but, I was quite disappointed. Houses here in Florida are still expensive for a poor, little rat like me … and to be honest, after one week on the beach I was eager to travel on.
There is so much more to see on this planet, and as you might know … I have to be back home on 09/09/09.
Three more months to go … so there is no time to lose.

Daytona International Speedway, Florida

What a weekend !!! ... as Robert promised me, we went to Daytona International Speedway, the legendary race track, the home of "The Great American Race", the Dayton 500.
The facility has a seating capacity of almost 168,000 spectators. It hosts races of motor vehicles of various kinds, including go-karts, motorcycles, sports cars, modified pickup trucks, and stock cars. The track features multiple layouts including a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, and a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course.

This is America folks ...

Dayton Beach, Florida

Today I enjoyed Dayton Beach. Dayton Beach is known as having one of the few beaches in the world where the hard packed sand allows motorized vehicles to drive on the beach in restricted areas. This hard packed sand made Daytona Beach a mecca for motorsports, with the Daytona International Speedway as one of it’s main attractions. And that is where I am gonna be this weekend ... 

... but first things first: let's go to the beach!

Take you ridin' in my car

Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm, 
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm. 
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm.

Take me riding in the car, car; 
Take me riding in the car, car;
Take you riding in the car, car; 
I'll take you riding in my car.

Click clack, open up the door, girls; 
Click clack, open up the door, boys; 
Front door, back door, clickety clack, 
Take you riding in my car.

Climb, climb, rattle on the front seat; 
Spree I spraddle on the backseat; 
Turn my key, step on my starter, 
Take you riding in my car.

Engine it goes boom, boom; 
Engine it goes boom, boom; 
Front seat, backseat, boys and girls, 
Take you riding in my car.

Trees and the houses walk along; 
Trees and the houses walk along; 
Truck and a car and a garbage can, 
Take you riding in my car.

Ships and the little boats chug along; 
Ships and the little boats chug along; 
Boom buhbuh boom boom boom buh boom, 
Take you riding in my car.

I'm a gonna send you home again; 
I'm a gonna send you home again; 
Boom, boom, buhbuh boom, rolling home, 
Take you riding in my car.

I'm a gonna let you blow the horn;
I'm a gonna let you blow the horn;

A oorah, a oorah, a oogah, oogah,
I'll take you riding in my car.

Great song of America's greatest songwriter Woody Guthrie ... you can hear him sing the song here.

And do you wanna know where I am drivin' to? 

To Dayton beach ... to watch more cars !!!

Clearwater Beach, Florida

This scarf Joy wrapped around my neck when I left Northern Ireland, was just to deceive me ... I didn't move to some chilly place. Oh no ... last week I arrived together with Robert Reid in sunny Florida! I am back in the USA ...

Here you see me on Clearwater Beach, home of pristine white sand beaches, clear gulf waters, warm sunshine and plenty of hospitality.

Yep ... I like it here.

So long, Northern Ireland ... I am ready to go

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
The dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn

I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know where I go and when I'll be back again …

… but lookin’ at the warm scarf Joy wrapped around my neck, I fear I am not headin’ for some warm, sunny place.

So long Northern Ireland! Thank you Nicola, Phil & Joy for your kind hospitality! God bless you.

Back in Bangor ... Rat's the best!

What a lovely trip to Belfast ... I love the city!

Yesterday we came back home in Bangor. 

Time for some relaxing and toying with the cat ... I like to tease her.

Nicola loves her pet very much, but this is what she said to me  ...

Folks can have their cats and dogs,
Horses, snakes, and even frogs.
For me you stand out from the rest.
No doubt about it- a RAT'S the best!

I hope I understood her well, she has strong Irish accent ...

Trapped in a dome ...

This Saturday we visited Victoria Square.

Victoria Square is a commercial, residential and leisure development in Belfast. It's the biggest property development in Northern Ireland (approx. 75.000 m² or 800,000 ft²). It opened about a year ago on March, the 6th, 2008 (I was in Bamberg, Germany then).

A key element in the development is two covered, multi-level streets linked to a massive glass dome measuring 35 m in diameter. A public square covered entirely by the glass dome serves as the hub of the entire area.

I am not on this square ... I am trapped in the glass dome (and I like it).

Trapped in a ball ...

... in front of Belfast City Hall.

Belfast, Nortern Ireland

Yesterday we arrived in Belfast … and today we visited the City Hall and the City Hall Grounds, a wonderful green space in the city. 

Here you see me in front of the ‘Bye Laws’ with regard to the of the Belfast City Hall Grounds. 

I read them very carefully and under the header ‘Dogs and Other Animals’ is writen in article 10. (b): 

“A person shall not bring into the Grounds any animal (other than a dog) the presence of which is likely to give reasonable cause of alarm to other persons.”

What do you think? Do I look like an animal to give reasonable cause of alarm to other persons?

Bangor, Northern Ireland

Hello folks … here I am back again. Saturday morning I arrived in Bangor, Northern Ireland!
It took me two weeks to travel from Ottawa to Bangor … after all, it’s almost 5000 kilometres (about 3000 miles) and I travelled by boat! At least that’s what I think … because I couldn’t see a thing: I travelled safely and warm in a trunk, stuffed with lots of lovely food.
I slept a lot and I don’t know with whom I crossed the ocean. Most important is that I am in Northern Ireland now with Nicola, Phil and Joy, who opened the trunk last Saturday.
It’s a lovely family I am living with; to be honest it’s somewhat calmer than in a house full of students! 

After a lovely quiet weekend, we left Bangor for Belfast … which is only 15 kilometres away. As you can see, we took the train. 

We will stay in Belfast for a few days, so stay tuned …

Goodbye Ottawa ... it has been good to know you

Hey folks ... today I am leavin' Canada. 

I don’t know where I am going, but I just know I need to go …
And since I don’t know where I'm goin', any road will take me there. 

I am confident that someone will take me somewhere ... that's my destiny.

So, goodbye Ottawa and thanks Noelani and all the residents of the Booth house ... it has been good to know you. 

So long Canada ! 

And happy Easter too !

Inside the Federal Canadian Parliament

Finaly got a chance to visit the office of Noelani in the Parliament of Canada. 

You see me in front of the screen of her computer (with the starting page of the intranet of the Parliament).

Noelani is interning with Senator Andreychuk from Saskatchewan in the Federal Canadian Parliament. 

She prepares briefings on various topics, is writing senator statements, does research and goes to various committee meetings and some other events and receptions. Smart girl, Noelani!

Seems to be a busy, but certainly a very interesting job!

The Federal Parliament of Canada, Ottawa

This is the Parliament of Canada. 

The buildings of the Parliament are among the most important examples of the Gothic Revival style anywhere in the world; while the manner and design of the buildings are unquestionably Gothic, they resemble no building constructed during the Middle Ages. The forms are the same, but their arrangement is uniquely modern. 

The Centre Block (behind me) contains the Senate and Commons chambers, and is fronted by the Peace Tower on the south façade. The Library of Parliament – which we visited last week – is at the building's rear.

The East and West Blocks each contain ministers' and senators' offices. This is where Noelani is interning with a real senator!
And tomorrow I will visit the office where she is working!